Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 58｜Part 2 of ----- 22| Muromachi Period Sword (室町時代), Uncategorized

55 |Part 2 of —–21 Muromachi Period Sword (室町時代刀)

Chapter 55 is a detailed section of Chapter 21, Muromachi Period Sword.  Please read Chapter 21 before reading this part.

57 Muromach-timeline size 22

                         The circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section

After the Muromachi period, swords shifted to katana(刀) from tachi (太刀), as described in Chapter 21, Muromachi Period Sword.  Refer to Chapter 21, Muromachi Period Sword.  By the end of the Nanboku-cho period, sword lengths had shortened to about 2 feet ± a few inches.  The 3-to-5-foot-long swords seen during the Nanboku-cho period were no longer produced.  This change occurred because, during the Nanboku-cho period, warriors mainly fought on horseback, but after the Muromachi period, infantry combat became more common.

Oei Bizen (応永備前)                                                                                                              The pronunciation of Oei is “O” as in “Oh” and “ei” as in “A” from ABC.  The Muromachi period was a declining time for sword-making.  The swords made during the early Muromachi period in the Bizen area is known as Oei Bizen.  Osafune Morimitsu (長船盛光), Osafune Yasumitsu (長船康光), and Osafune Moromitsu (長船師光) were the main Oei Bizen swordsmiths.  Soshu Hiromasa (相州広正) and Yamashiro Nobukuni (山城信國) were also similar to the Oei Bizen style.  Please refer to Chapter 21, Muromachi Period Sword, for details on the  Muromachi sword shape, Hamon, Boshi, and Ji-hada.

                       Bishu Osafune Moromitsu (備州長船師光)   from Sano Museum Catalogue ((permission granted)

The Osafune Moromitsu sword shown above measures 2 feet 5 inches in length and has a medium kissaki.  Its hamon has a small wave-like pattern with continuous gunome (a lined half-circle pattern).  The boshi area shows irregular waviness with a slightly pointed tip.  Very faint bo-utsuri (a soft shadow shaped like a strip of wood) appears on ji-hada.  Bo-utsuri is a distinctive feature among all the Oei Bizen. 

Before the Muromachi period, many swordsmith groups operated in the Bizen region. However, by the Muromachi period, Osafune (長船) was the only remaining group.

Osafune (長船) is the name of a region, but it became the surname of swordsmiths during the Muromachi period.  Two other well-known swordsmiths from Oei Bizen are Osafune Morimitsu (盛光) and Osafune Yasumitsu (康光).  The hamon created by Morimitsu and Yasumitsu is more detailed than that of the sword in the photo above.  Chapter 21, Muromachi period swords, shows the hamon of Morimitsu and Yasumitsu and describes the typical characteristics of swords from the Muromachi period.

                                                 Hirazukuri Ko-Wakizashi Tanto

58 Hirazukuri Ko-Wakizashi Tanto

Hirazukuri Ko-Wakizashi Tanto Shape                                                                       

Hirazukuri ko-wakizashi tanto was a popular style during the early Muromachi period. Swordsmiths from various regions produced tantos similar to the one shown above. However, most of these types were made by Oei Bizen swordsmiths.

The characteristics of the Hirazukuri ko-wakizashi tanto ————-Typically about one foot and 1 or 2 inches long.  No yokote line, no shinogi, and no sori (meaning no curvature, straight back).  Average thickness.  Narrow width.  Gyo-no-mune (refer to Chapter 12, Middle Kamakura Period Tanto).

13 Mune drawing

Hirazukuri Ko-wakizashi tanto often shows many engravings.  Hi with soe-hi (double lines, wide and narrow side by side), Tokko-tsuki-ken, Tsume-tsuki-ken, Bonji, and more.

.

9 Hi, Suken, Bonji20 Tokko, tume Ken  58 tsumetukiken and Hi

*drawings from “Nihonto no Okite to Tokucho” by Honami Koson

 

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 56| Nanboku-Cho Tanto (南北朝短刀）, Uncategorized

53| Part 2 of — 19 Nanboku-cho Period Tanto (南北朝短刀)

This chapter is a detailed section of Chapter 19.  Please read Chapter 19, Nanboku-cho Period Tanto, before proceeding on to this part. 

0-timeline - size 24 Nanboku-cho

                          The red circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section

20 Enbun Jyoji Kowakizashi Tanto

The drawing above shows a typical shape of a Nanboku-cho-period tanto. This drawing was in Chapter 19.  I exaggerated the features of the Enbun Joji ko-wakizashi tanto to better show you.  At the end of Chapter 19, Nanboku-cho Tanto, there is a list of swordsmiths’ names from that period.  Hiromitsu (広光) and Akihiro (秋広) represent the Nanboku-cho style.

56 cropped Hiromitu photo 20 HitatsuraHiromitsu from the Sano Museum Catalogue (permission to use granted)

Enbun Joji Ko-wakizashi tanto is also called Sun-nobi tanto (>10 inches) because its length is longer than the standard size (about 10 inches) tanto.  The upper part of the tanto curves outward slightly.  This type is called sakizori.

Characteristics of Hiromitsu (広光) and Akihiro (秋広)

  • Shape———————— Usually, one foot and one to two inches long (Sun-nobi).   Wide width.  Thin blade.  Sakizori.
  • Hamon ———————- A mix of wide and narrow hamon.  The hamon around the yakidashi (just above the machi) area is narrow but gradually widens as it moves up.  The hamon around the fukura area shows most work.  Mainly nie.  Sunagashi, kinsuji, gunome, umanoha-midare (horse teeth-shaped hamon), or hitatsura appear (drawing above).                 
  • Boshi———-Irregular and unevenly tempered.  The hamon covers almost the entire boshi. Deep turn back. 
  • Jihada ———————————————————Wood-grained pattern
  • Nakago —————–Tanago-bara shape.  Refer to 19 Nanboku-cho Period Tanto.

Nobukuni (Below is my sword)

Shodai Nobukuni (the first-generation Nobukuni) was a student of Sadamune.  He was one of the Sadamune San Tetsu (貞宗三哲, Sadamune’s top three students).  Nobukuni’s characteristics resembled those of Hiromitsu and Akihiro, as described above.  Nobukuni also created sun-nobi tanto.  The sword below has a hoso-suguha, ko-mokume (small burl pattern), and ko-maru boshi (small round). 

56 Nobukuni 1 Nobukuni4

56 Nobukuni 2This is the certification of my sword.  Shodai Nobukuni (初代信國).   Juyo Token (重要刀剣)

Certification

Number: Juyo 3220, Certification Juyo-Token

Wakizashi:  Nobukuni (信国), 31.4cm long, 0.3cm curvature, hirazukuri, mitsumune (three-sided mune), sun-nobi.  The ji-hada shows a wood grain and ji-nie (surface nie, between shinogi and hamon). The hamon is a chu-suguha (medium straight). The front carving shows bonji (Sanskrit) and sanko-ken. The back engraving is bonji and hoko (pike).   Original nakago.  Examined by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai.  It is certified as a Juyo Token.  The Chairman, Moritatu Hosokawa.  Showa 45 June 1 (June 1, 1970)

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 22| Muromachi Period Sword, Uncategorized

21| Muromachi Period Sword (室町時代刀)

0-timeline - size 24 Muromach

　　　　　　　The red circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section

The Muromachi period was a relatively peaceful and prosperous time until shortly before the “Onin-no-ran,” which occurred at the end of the Muromachi period.  Refer to Chapter 20, Muromachi Period History (室町時代歴史).   The Nanboku-cho style long swords became outdated; as a result, they were shortened.  The shortened blade is called suriage.  Overall, the Muromachi period was a declining time for sword-making.

Tachi and Katana 

Until the end of the Nanboku-cho period or the beginning of the Muromachi period, samurai wore swords suspended from their waists with the blade facing down.  When a sword was worn this way, the swordsmith inscribed his name on the side facing outward, meaning the blade is on your right when you see the inscription.  In this case, the sword is called a tachi.

During the Muromachi period, a sword was worn between the belt, with the blade facing up.   The swordsmith inscribed his name so that it faced outward when it was worn. Therefore, when you see the inscription, the cutting edge is to your left.  This is classified as a katana. 

Around the beginning of the Muromachi period, samurai started to wear a pair of swords called dai-sho (大小), meaning large and small.  The longer sword is a katana, and the shorter one is a wakizashi.  In general, a tachi is longer than a katana.  A katana is longer than a wakizashi, and a wakizashi is longer than a tanto.  Here is the order of their lengths. 

                                       Tachi   >   Katana   >   Wakizashi   >  Tanto                                  Tachi and katana differ in how they are worn, not in length.   

O-suriage ( 大磨上: Katana shortened by great length)　

How much the sword should be shortened depends on its original length and how much the owner wants it shortened.  O-suriage is a type of sword that is significantly shortened.  Once the blade is shortened by that length, the inscription of the maker’s name is cut off.  When the Hon’ami family (本阿弥家, a family of sword connoisseurs who have appraised Japanese swords for generations from the Muromachi period to today) appraises such a suriage sword, they write the make of the sword and the swordsmith’s name on the front side of the hilt, and the connoisseur’s name with his kaou (similar to a signature) on the back.  There are several levels of writing.  The level at which it should be done depends on the sword’s quality and the owner’s preference.  Below is the order of levels (high to low).

Shu-Mei (朱明 )————————————————————-name written in Vermilion  Kinpun-Mei (金粉名 )———————————————–name lacquered in gold powder  Gin-Zougan (銀象嵌 )————————————————————name inlaid in silver  Kin-Zougan (金象嵌 )————————————————————-name inlaid in gold

Sugata (姿: Shape) ——— The average length is typically two feet three to four inches (68~71cm).  The shape of the Muromachi period katana is somewhat similar to that of the Heian period tachi.  However, Muromachi katana are less grand or graceful than those from the Heian period swords.  The curvature is usually of the koshizori style.  Koshizori refers to the highest curvature being near the lower part of the blade.  The length and shape are suitable for wearing between the body and the belt.  The width and thickness are well-balanced with the size of the sword.  Small kissaki.

22 Muromachi sword shape

Hirazukuri-Wakizashi ———– Hirazukuri refers to a flat surface without a shinogi or yokote line.  Usually, it is 1 foot and 1 to 2 inches long.  No curvature.  Hirazukuri-wakizashi appeared during the Muromachi period.

Hamon (刃文: tempered line) ———————- Nioi base.  The tempered area is well balanced with the blade’s width.  Koshi-hiraita-midare is mixed with choji-midare.

22Hamon (Koshi Hiraita midare)
from Sano Museum Catalogue (permission granted)
  • Boshi (Tempered line at Kissaki area) ————– Midare-komi, a short turn back.  See the above illustration.  Midare is an irregular wave-like pattern.
  • Ji-hada (地肌: An area between the tempered line and Shinogi)- Soft look, a large wood grain pattern, Ji-utsuri (faint smoke or cloud-like effect) shows.
  • Horimono (彫物：Engravings) ———- Bo-hi (single groove), Soe-hi (a thin groove alongside the main hi), Futasuji-hi (double narrow groove), Sanskrit, Tokko-tsuki ken, Tsume-tsuki Ken, name of God, and dragon.  Carvings became elaborate.

8 Hi, Suken, Bonji                  21 Tsume-tuki-ken tokko with caption

Sword Smiths during Muromachi Period

  • Bizen Den ——–Osafune Morimitsu (長船盛光), Yasumitsu (康光), Moromitsu (師光)
  • Yamashiro Den————————————————-Yamashiro Nobukuni (山城信国)

21 Muromachi sword from Sano

Ise Masashige (伊勢正重),                     Bizen Osafune Naomitsu (備前長船尚光)         Juyo Token(重要刀剣)                           Sano Museum Catalogue (permission granted)    once my family sword

 
 

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 20 Nanboku-Cho Tanto, Uncategorized

19 | Nanboku-Cho Period Tanto（南北朝短刀）

0-timeline - size 24 Nanboku-cho
The circle indicates the time we discuss in this section

During the Nanboku-cho period, a type of tanto called hirazukuri ko-wakizashi sun-nobi tanto was made.  Hirazukuri means flat swords without the yokote line or shinogi.  Ko-wakizashi refers to a shorter sword.  Sun-nobi tanto means longer than a standard tanto.  This type is also known as Enbun Jyoji ko-wakizashi tanto because most of these tantos were created during the Enbun and Jyoji eras of the imperial period.  In Japan, a new imperial era begins when a new emperor ascends to the throne.  The Enbun era spanned 1356-1361, while the Jyoji period spanned 1362-1368.

20 Enbun Jyoji Kowakizashi Tanto

Sugata (姿: shape) ————A standard tanto measure is approximately one shaku.  Shaku is an old Japanese unit of measurement for length, and one shaku is roughly equal to one foot.  

8.5 sun (the sun is another old Japanese measurement unit of length) is approximately ten inches.  Ten inches is the standard size for a tanto, known as a josun tanto.  Anything longer than a josun tanto is called a sun-nobi tanto.  Anything shorter than a josun is called a sun-zumari tanto. 

Most of the Nanboku-cho tantos are longer than a josun tanto, approximately one foot two inches.  Therefore, they are called hirazukuri ko-wakizashi sun-nobi tanto.  Saki-zori (curved outward at the top.  See the illustration above).   Wide in width and thin in body.  Fukura kareru (no fukura means less arc).  Shin-no-mune.  See the drawing below.

20 Fukura           20 Shin-no-Mune

Hi, (樋: Grooves) and Horimono (彫り物: Engraving) ——- A groove or grooves on the mune side.  Bonji (Sanskrit, see Chapter 16 Late Kamakura Period (Early Soshu-Den Tanto),  koshi-bi (short groove),  tumetuki ken, and tokko-tsuki ken (see below) appear. The ken (dagger) is curved widely and deeply in the upper part and shallower and narrower in the lower part.  This is called Soshu-bori (Soshu-style carving).

20 Tokko, tume Ken

Hamon (刃: Tempered line) ——- The narrowly tempered section at the lower part gradually widens toward the top.  A similar wide hamon pattern extends into the boshi area.  The hamon in the kissaki area is kaeri-fukashi (deep turn back).  See the illustration below.  Coarse nie.  O-midare (large irregular hamon pattern).

20 Hitatsura

                                        From Sano Museum Catalogue

Ji-hada (地肌: the area between shinogi-ji and the tempered line) ——– a loose wood grain pattern called itame.  Yubashiri (see Chapter 16, Late Kamakura Period) and tobiyaki (irregular patchy tempered spots) appear.  Dense tobiyaki is called hitatsura (see the drawing above).

Nakago (茎: Tang) —- Short tanago-bara.  Tanago-bara refers to the shape of the belly of a Japanese fish called tanago (bitterling).

20 Tanago Bara

Tanto Swordsmiths during the Nanboku-Cho Period

Soshu Den ———————————————————-Hiromitu( 広光) Akihiro (秋広) Yamashiro Den ————————————————–Hasebe Kunishige (長谷部国重)   Bizen Den ——————————————————— Kanemitu (兼光) Chogi (長義 )

    Soshu Hiromitsu     “Nippon-To Art Sword of Japan “   The Walter A. Compton Collection

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 19| Nanboku-Cho (North and South dynasty) Period Sword, Uncategorized

18| Nanboku-Cho Period Sword (南北朝太刀）

0-timeline - size 24 Nanboku-cho

                           The circle indicates the time we discuss in this section

During the Nanboku-cho period, samurai sought large, elaborate, impressive, yet practical swords.  The Soshu-den style sword from Nanboku-cho time was just that.    This was the most popular style at the time.  The Nanboku-cho period marked the peak and height of the Soshu-den sword.  Many swordsmiths moved from other provinces to the Kamakura area and forged Soshu-den style swords.  Other schools and provinces outside the Kamakura area also produced Soshu-den-style swords in their own areas.

 

19 Nanboku-cho Sword style

Sugata (姿: Shape) —————–The original length of a sword ranged from three to five feet, but it was later shortened to about two and a half feet.  A significantly shortened blade is called o-suriage. 

The Nanboku-cho style sword features shallow kyo-zori (also called torii-zori).  Refer to Chapter 5, Heian Period Sword.  The highest curvature occurs around the middle of the body. It has a wide body, high shinogi, narrow shinogi-ji  (Chapter 3, Names of parts),  and thin kasane (blade thickness), which are distinctive features of the Nanboku-cho style.  High gyo-no-mune or shin-no-mune, and sometimes a maru-mune (round back).

19 Nanboku-cho 3 kinds Mune

Hi (樋: groove) and Horimono (彫刻: engraving) ——– Often, a single hi (bo-hi), double hi, suken (dagger), Bonji (Sanskrit), and/or dragon are engraved on the shinogi-ji area.  Refer to Chapter 3, Names of Parts.

9 Hi, Suken, Bonji

Hamon (刃: Tempered line) —- The lower part of the body exhibits a narrow-tempered line; gradually, this line becomes wider and showier.  Course nie. O-midare (large, irregular, wavy hamon), Notare-midare (wavy, irregular hamon), and Gunome-midare (a combination of repeated half-circular and irregular hamon). Inazuma and kinsuji (see Chapter 14, Late Kamakura Period Sword) sometimes appear.

19 Hamon Notare 319 Mamon choji gunome19 Hitatsura Hamon Hiromitsu

                                  *From Sano Museum Catalogue ( Permission granted).

Ji-hada (地肌: the area between the shinogi and the tempered line) ———————-Wood-grain pattern (itame 板目). Sometimes tobiyaki (patchy tempered spots) appear on ji-hada.  For ji-hada, refer to Chapter 3, Names of Parts.

Kissaki (切っ先) and Boshi (tempered line at the kissaki area) ———- O-kissaki (long and large kissaki). Fukura kareru (less arc kissaki).  Midare-komi (the body and boshi have a similar tempered pattern), with kaeri-fukashi (hamon deeply turns back), and sometimes hitatsura (entirely tempered).  See the illustration above.

Sword-smiths during Nanboku-Cho Period Soshu Den (school)

  • From Soshu—————————————————Hiromitsu (広光)  Akihiro (秋広) 　
  • From Yamashiro ———————————————Hasebe Kunishige (長谷部国重) 
  • From Bizen (called So-den Bizen)——-Chogi (長儀 )group  Kanemitsu (兼光 ) group 
  • From Chikuzen ———————————————————-Samoji (左文字 ) group

Chogi (長義）from The Sano Museum catalog. Permission to use is granted

The distinctive characteristics of the Nanboku-Cho period sword in the photo above      

  • The trace of an engraving of suken on the inside of the nakago indicates that this area was once a part of the main body.
  • Large and long kissaki

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 9 | Middle Kamakura Period -- Yamashiro School

8| Middle Kamakura Period: Yamashiro Den （鎌倉中期山城伝）

        

0-timeline - size 24 Middle Kamakura                          The circle indicates the time we discuss in this section

The characteristics of Yamashiro Den swords

Sugata (shape)—– Generally, the blade is narrow, especially near the yokote line.  The bottom of the blade has funbari (an A-line shape).  Kasane is thick, and the curvature type is usually kyo-zori (the deepest curvature is around the middle).  It has a small kissaki with fukura.   Shinogi is thick, with gyo-no-mune or shin-no-mune.  Please refer to the three illustrations below for sugata.

13 Mune drawing

9 鎌倉中期刀姿

8 Fukura

Horimono (Engraving)—– The tip of a Hi (樋, groove) follows the exact shape of the Ko-shinogi line.  Sometimes you may see Bonj (Sanscrit) and Suken (see the illustration).

9 Hi, Suken, Bonji

Nakago (hilt: 中心) ——————–Long and thin with a slight curve.                                  Hamon (tempered line: 刃文) —————-Mostly suguha (straight line), niju-ba (double hamon), or suguha with an irregular wavy line.  Sometimes, a thin gold lightning-like line called inazuma appears faintly.  The tempered line is mostly nie.  Below is suguha.

 
豊後国行平(Bungo-no-Kuni-Yukihira)  Sano Museum Catalog permission granted

   * Bungo-no-Kuni-Yukihira was a Yamashiro Den swordsmith from the Bungo region.

Boshi(鋩子)——– Komaru-boshi (small round)   Omaru-boshi (large round)                    Ji-hada (地肌) ——-Well forged fine surface.  Small burl pattern.  Jinie (地沸) on the surface.

Names of the swordsmiths during the middle Kamakura period

  • Ayano-Koji group ———————————– Ayano-Koji Sadatoshi (綾小路 定利 )
  • Awataguchi group ————————————- Awataguchi kunitsuna (粟田口国綱)
  • Rai group ————————-Rai kuniyuki (来国行) Rai Nijikunitoshi (来ニ字国俊)

Rai Kunitoshi (来国俊)       Sano Museum Catalogue, Permission granted